Wrap-around carton blank with end panel lock



WRAP-AROUNi3 CARTON BLANK WITH END PANEL LOCK Filed July 17, 1964 E. J.GRASER Sept. 6, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet l wfw rm;

FIG l EARL Fggggg ATTORNEY Sept. 6, 1966 E. J. GRASER 3,279,934

WRAP-AROUND CARTON BLANK WITH END PANEL LOCK Filed July 17, 1964 3Sheets-Sheet 2 J25 l ,4 f 2 I:

[I6 2 EARL J '5X5$ BY (4% Sept. 6, 1966 E. J. GRASER 3,270,914

WRAP-AROUND CARTON BLANK WITH END PANEL LOCK Filed July 17, 1964 5Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. EARL J GRASEP FJM ATrnQ VEV United StatesPatent 3,270,914 WRAP-AROUND CARTON BLANK WITH END PANEL LOCK Earl J.Graser, Monroe, La., assignor to Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation, acorporation of Virginia Filed July 17, 1964, Ser. No. 383,373 2 Claims.(Cl. 220112) The present invention relates to carton blanks of theso-called wrap-around style utilized to encircle a plurality of similararticles to develop a unitary package or assemly of articles.

The invention disclosed and claimed herein is an improvement over thedisclosure of US. patent application S.N. 304,448, filed August--26,1963, by Earl J. Graser and Richard L. Schuster, now US. Patent No.3,181,727, issued May 4, 1965.

It is a primary feature of the present invention to provide awrap-around carton blank which includes end wall panels (partial or fulllength) including means for locking the panels to the bottom of thecarton.

A wrap-around carton blank for encircling and packaging a plurality ofarticles into a unitary assembly embracing certain features of thepresent invention may comprise integral end wall flaps or panels and abottom wall defining inner and outer overlapping bottom panels, meansfor locking at least one end wall panel to the bottom wall comprising alocking tongue hinged to one of said overlapping bottom panels and .amating slot formed in said end panel, said tongue being formed with ashoulder operative when the tongue is inserted into the slot to make alocking connection with said panel.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become moreapparent from an examination of the succeeding specification when readin conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a typical wrap around carton blank formed withopposed wing elements;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a typical wrap around carton blank includingfull length end wall panels;

FIG. 3 shows a partially completed carton, and;

FIG. 4 ShOWs the finished carton with the end wall panels tucked andlocked.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the reference numeral indicates the bodyportion of a wraparound carton blank utilized to encircle a plurality ofarticles to develop a package in well known fashion.

The body portion 10 is generally elongated or rectangular and includesside edges 11 and 12.

Integrally formed with the body of the blank and integrally connected atopposed side edges are wing elements 13 and 14.

Since the present invention is directed to the conformation of the wingelements 13 and 14, details of the body portion 10 will be describedonly to the extent necessary to identify the conventional features of awrap around carton blank.

The body 10 comprises panels 16 and 17 which form a bottom wall, sidewalls 18 and 19, and top Wall 21. The carton lock structure, indicatedby the reference numerals 22 and 23, is similar to the arrangementdisclosed and claimed in US. Patent 3,098,583 issued to Sherman et al.on July 23, 1963.

Tabs 24 and 26 provide sockets for the bottom and top of the articlespackaged in a manner which will become more apparent hereinafter.

The lines referenced 27 and 28 provide a weakened area in the blank tofacilitate easy opening.

Circular cutouts 29 provide finger access by which one may grasp thecompleted package.

Referring now in detail to the wing elements 13 and 14 in FIG. 2, notethat these elements are provided with 3,270,914 Patented Sept. 6, 1966ice.

a plurality of score lines effective to divide the wing elements intovarious panels and to provide hinge lines or score lines about which thevarious panels are rotated.

Since wing elements 13 and 14 are identical, only panel 13 will bedescribed in detail.

Wing element 13 is hinged to the body 10 along score lines 31, 32 and33.

Score lines 31 and 34 define end wall panel 37 and score lines 33 and 36define end wall panel 38.

Note that end wall panels 37 and 38 are of suflicient length to extendto the bottom wall of a fully erected package (see FIG. 4). In addition,panels 37 and 38 enclose the ends of the package.

Score lines 34, 39, and 41 define a generally triangular tuck panel 42.Score lines 32, 41 and 44 define a second generally triangular tuckpanel 43 while score lines 36, 44 and 46 define a third generallytriangular tuck panel 47.

Note that tuck panels 42, 43 and 47 have adjoining or converging apicesas indicated by the reference numeral 48. Score lines 39 and 46 definetuck flaps 49 and 51 integrally hinged by score line 50.

Wing element 14 is similarly scored to define similar panels and similarhinge lines. Thus, wing element 14 comprises end walls 52 and 53,generally triangular tuck panels 54, 56 and 57 and tuck flaps 58 and 59hinged at score line 60. End wall panels 37, 38, 52 and 53 .are eachformed with a slot 50 operative to receive and make locking connectionwith locking tongues 60 and 70 hinged to inner bottom wall panel 17 inthe manner in FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 3, the body 10 of the blank is wrapped around aplurality of articles such as six beverage bottles 61-62 in well knownfashion to develop a package of articles where the package comprises topwall 31, side walls '18 and 19 and bottom wall 63.

Wing element 13 is shown in the unfolded condition projecting outwardlyat one edge while wing element 14 (not shown) projects similarly at theopposite edge from the body 10 of the blank. After the package,represented by FIG. 3, is formed, wing element 13 is rotated about scorelines 31, 32 and 33.

Application of pressure by an instrument, such as a finger device 45,indicated in dotted lines at the intersecting apices 48 and in thedirection shown by the arrow of FIG. 3, will cause the trianglar tuckpanels to move inwardly to the position shown in FIG. 4. In thiscondition end wall panels 37 and '38 fall normal to the top wall 21 ofthe package and are retained in this position by the tucked position ofthe triangular panels 42, 43 and 47.

The end wall panels 37 and 38 fully enclose one end of the package;correspondingly, end wall panels 52 and 53 fully enclose the oppositeend of the package.

And is apparent in FIG. 4, the tongue 60 having a barbed end 71 isrotated about its score line 62 so that the barbed end thereof isreceived within and creates a locking connection with one or both endwall panels 37-38.

Thus, the tongue 60 defines a locking means operative to keep the endwalls from springing outwardly to the position of FIG. 3 and the tongue60 also aids in retaining the bottoms of the packaged articles 61-62 inplace.

If desired, the locking tongue 60 may be hinged to the outer panel 16and may engage and lock with only one end wall panel as desired.

In some arrangements of the invention it may be desirable to make acut-out in the end Wall panels such as the triangular cut-out shown indotted lines at in FIG. 1 in lieu of the slots 50-50.

It is intended that the locking tongue 70 function in similar fashion.

The present invention is not limited to full length end wall panels; thelocking device is equally effective where the end Wall panels are lessthan full length. The locking tongues 6070 are elongated or shortened asnecessary to engage and lock the end Wall panels.

It is anticipated that a wide variety of modifications of the presentinvention may be devised both as to the blank and the method of foldingthe blank without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a wraparound carton of the type having a bottom wall defined byinner and outer overlapping bottom panels and two end walls eachcomprising a set of two end Walls flaps disposed generally perpendicularto said bottom wall, the improvement comprising the opposite endportions of said bottom wall each having a single locking tonguehingedly connected thereto intermediate the length thereof, a slot ineach set of end wall flaps, each said slot extending inwardly from theinner edge portion of each said end wall flap, each of said tongueshaving oppositely disposed shoulder, portions, one ofsaidshoulderportions of'each of said tongue operative to be inserted insaid slot of one end wall flap of one set and the other shoulder portionof said tongue operative to be inserted in the slot of the other endwall flap of said set. a

2. The carton as set forth in claim 1 wherein said slots are generallytriangular.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,973,129 2/1961Stone et a1 229-40 X 3,128,010 4/1964 Forrer 220ll2 3,163,321 12/1964Weiss 220113 3,167,214 1/1965 Mahon 22940 X 3,176,902 4/1965 Champlin22940 GEORGE O. RALSTON, Primary Examiner.

1. IN A WRAP-AROUND CARTON OF THE TYPE HAVING A BOTTOM WALL DEFINED BYINNER AND OUTER OVERLAPPING BOTTOM PANELS AND TWO END WALLS EACHCOMPRISING A SET OF TWO END WALLS FLAPS DISPOSED GENERALLY PERPENDICULARTO SAID BOTTOM WALL, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING THE OPPOSITE ENDPORTIONS OF SAID BOTTOM WALL EACH HAVING A SINGLE LOCKING TONGUEHINGELDY CONNECTED THERETO INTERMEDIATE THE LENGTH THEREOF, A SLOT INEACH SET OF END WALL FLAPS, EACH SAID SLOT EXTENDING INWARDLY FROM THEINNER EDGE PORTION OF EACH SAID END WALL FLAP, EACH OF SAID TONGUESHAVING OPPOSITELY DISPOSED SHOULDER PORTIONS, ONE OF SAID SHOULDERPORTIONS OF EACH OF SAID TONGUE OPERATIVE TO BE INSERTED IN SAID SLOT OFONE END WALL FLAP OF ONE SET AND THE OTHER SHOULDER PORTION OF SAIDTONGUE OPERATIVE TO BE INSERTED IN THE SLOT OF THE OTHER END WALL FLAPOF SAID SET.